Method to reduce maintenance costs and the carbon footprint in land management

Abstract

A method of reducing maintenance costs and carbon footprints near / on roadways, airports, public and private right of ways, military areas, unused construction areas, government and subsidy lands by utilizing these areas for the growth of biofuel feedstock materials. Crops used for production of biofuels could be grown in or around these areas and processed into biofuels in the same general area. This process would produce lower exhaust emissions compared with fossil fuels, decrease cost of maintenance of roadways and public right of ways, decrease the United States dependence on foreign oil and decrease transportation costs of fuels to customers, alleviate pest pressures, reduce storm water runoff and help to control fire danger. This process includes, but is not limited to sustainable tillage growth of common biofuels feedstock crops including: canola, rape, mustard, camelina, sunflower; harvesting said crops and turning the biomass yield into biofuels.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of provisional application entitled “Freeways to Fuel: a novel approach to biofuels production”, assigned Ser. No. 60 / 878,228 filed Jan. 3, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to methods for producing biofuels. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for using biofuel crops to reduce maintenance costs and carbon footprint of areas by converting components of materials grown on grounds along roadways, runways, public and private right of ways, military areas, unused construction areas, government and subsidy lands into biofuels. The invention also includes a suggested method for processing biofuels as they are harvested in a mobile type situation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The United States consumes billions gallons of petroleum based products each year. A majority of that ene...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027]The present invention is a process reduce cost of maintenance along fallow grounds along roadways, runways, public and private right of ways, military areas, unused construction areas, government and subsidy lands to be used for biofuel production either onsite or remotely. To date, roadways, right of ways, and other idle lands have been a breeding ground for pests and overlooked for use as a biofuel growing area. This invention would put those areas to work growing biomass that can be converted into useful products such as fuels that can be sustainable, decreased emissions. This process initiates the production of these fuels from agronomical idle ground that often has to be maintained. This invention will decrease those maintenance costs while producing biofuel crops. Our process also allows for increased aesthetics with a mixture of plants grown improving roadside appearance. By using this system, fuel can be grown and processed in a more sustainable manner, decreasing need of transportation of feedstock from long distances such as in crude oil or current biofuel production, decrease maintenance costs and increase returns to local, state and federal land stewards.

Problems solved by technology

When these fuels are combusted, they not only release enormous amount of pollutants into the atmosphere causing smog, disease and distress, but add to the greenhouse gas content to the atmosphere.

In addition to these environment concerns, global unrest and increasing demand have influenced fuel prices drastically upwards and affected people everywhere.

This has become a national security issue for the United States.

Their cost of production has kept them from being implemented until recent fluctuations in the crude oil market.

These and other public and private lands translate into potential billons gallons of biofuel feedstock that could be grown on these areas that are largely now just cause maintenance / pest problems or lay idle.

These roadsides and fallow farm lands harbor noxious weeds and take huge sums of money to mow and maintain.

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